Listerine Oral Care Challenge- ResultsA few weeks ago (three, to be precise) I posted about the Listerine Oral Care Challenge that Jacob and I were taking part in. We just wrapped up the challenge, and I’m happy to report that it went fairly well. To recap- during the challenge, both Jacob and I had to brush, floss, and use mouth-wash twice a day every day for three weeks. Now, I already did this, but getting Jake to follow the routine was a little trickier. He had to be bribed. Once I told him it was a challenge for the blog, and the whole internet (hey, I dream big!) was going to know how he did, he jumped right it. It also helped that I told him I would let him use our incentive to buy anything he wanted on Amazon.

Jacob got some really cool toothbrushes- like Batman and Phineas and Ferb- and some great kid’s mouthwash. The toothbrushes helped him get to those hard-to-reach back teeth, and since they feature his favorite characters, he’s more excited to use them. He also used the Reach Flosser, which that made it much easier for him because it has the handle on it. I used my brand new toothbrush, Reach floss (the Whitening kind on a spool) and the Listerine Total Care Zero, which is really great for those who want a clean mouth without the burn. I like the floss because it’s soft fibers, but it didn’t shred on me.

I put the little chart up that came with my kit, and every night Jake marked off when we completed our new ritual. Now that the challenge is over, I’m hoping that he’ll stick with it, since it’s become routine. With him, I’ve found that marking down the chores or other things that he does really helps him stay focused and more willing to do it. I guess he gets that from me, since I’m a neurotic list maker.

The Listerine website has loads of great resources to help you learn about the importance of good oral care routines. Did you know that gum disease has been linked to other nasty diseases, like heart disease? By taking good care of your mouth, you’re also taking care of your whole body. I think it’s really important to get kids into a healthy routine as early as possible, even though they may rebel against it and try to con you into thinking they actually brushed their teeth (Jake is the king of this trick).

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Listerine and received a sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”